If Booth can regain some of his scoring touch he will be a valuable addition down the stretch and into the playoffs. My big concern is that I never seemed to feel he clicked with Kesler. So lets see how the team plays when Kesler is back, what the lines look like and then we can worry about Booth. He may get third line with JS, someone who will pass to him. Higgins drops down to the 4th and Raymond gets second line with Kesler and Kassian. Who knows.

If all this about Gillis sincerely being concerned for Manny's health is true - and I haven't seen compelling evidence otherwise - then kudos to Gillis for being the closest there is to being a players' GM.

Considering the issues with management, labour and health in sport these days, you could call Gillis a true 'visionary' in this regard. IMO, he did the right thing - especially by bringing in Manny's agent and others close to him (I'm imagining an 'Intervention'-type scene at Rogers Place) and giving Manny some choices for his future. You better believe this has not gone unnoticed among the players in the league. Another factor in making the Canucks a preferred employer for free agents who chase more than the money.

Sounds like Gillis may have depth problems down the road - too much depth! Putting Booth with Schroeds may be worth the experiment. That said, I still think he and Kes could develop the chemistry it seemed was developing before he got his knee blown up last year.

Kes appears set to hit the ice against Dallas. I just hope he stuck to his word and isn't coming back too soon. Time will tell, I guess.

Hockey Widow wrote: My big concern is that I never seemed to feel he clicked with Kesler. So lets see how the team plays when Kesler is back, what the lines look like and then we can worry about Booth. He may get third line with JS, someone who will pass to him. Higgins drops down to the 4th and Raymond gets second line with Kesler and Kassian. Who knows.

That is some of the most brilliant postings I have seen in these parts since who knows when. There is life on this planet, Captain Kirk.

I think the Nucks will have no choice but to buy out Booth's contract unless they can get someone to take him for draft picks. Jensen is the ideal, cheaper replacement for him and most likely will be the better player. Gillis will be getting some sort of hefty contract back for Luongo, Ballard seems to be filling a need (part of a decent 3rd pairing) much more than what Booth could provide. We got bottom 6 forwards coming out of our ying yang, cheaper ones that are just as good if not better. I see a line of Kassian, Kesler and Higgins and a line of Raymond, Schroeder and Hansen. 4th line Lappy, Volpatti and Weise. For next year, I would say adios to Higgins and Booth and bring in Jensen.

By the time Ballards contract is up, Corrado should be raring to go.

Last edited by RoyalDude on Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

Hockey Widow wrote:If Booth can regain some of his scoring touch he will be a valuable addition down the stretch and into the playoffs. My big concern is that I never seemed to feel he clicked with Kesler. So lets see how the team plays when Kesler is back, what the lines look like and then we can worry about Booth. He may get third line with JS, someone who will pass to him. Higgins drops down to the 4th and Raymond gets second line with Kesler and Kassian. Who knows.

Yeah, does seem like he's being pushed out a bit. After playing like 100 games since the injury, now they think he's a risk to get himself injured? It doesn't make a lot of sense. What makes Gillis an expert to say a player is a risk to himself? If the doctors clears a guy to play and the player feels he's ready to play, it should be ultimately up to the player. The fact that Manny hasn't spoken to the media says alot and he must be pissed. Manny probably still thinks he can play, otherwise he wouldn't have worked out hard in the off season and spent all that time dicking around with the NHLPA negotiating committee. Also, it just seems really convenient to shut Manny down just when Kes is coming back and Schroeder seems to be emerging as an NHL player.

I think Manny would request a trade or ask to be put on waivers, but his wife just gave birth and he probably doesn't want to leave their side right now. I don't think we've seen the last of Manny. Come summer when he becomes a UFA, he's probably going to try to sign with another team.

Rumsfeld wrote:Retirement or being pushed out, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Todd Bersnoozi wrote:Yeah, does seem like he's being pushed out a bit. After playing like 100 games since the injury, now they think he's a risk to get himself injured? It doesn't make a lot of sense. What makes Gillis an expert to say a player is a risk to himself? If the doctors clears a guy to play and the player feels he's ready to play, it should be ultimately up to the player. The fact that Manny hasn't spoken to the media says alot and he must be pissed. Manny probably still thinks he can play, otherwise he wouldn't have worked out hard in the off season and spent all that time dicking around with the NHLPA negotiating committee. Also, it just seems really convenient to shut Manny down just when Kes is coming back and Schroeder seems to be emerging as an NHL player.

I think Manny would request a trade or ask to be put on waivers, but his wife just gave birth and he probably doesn't want to leave their side right now. I don't think we've seen the last of Manny. Come summer when he becomes a UFA, he's probably going to try to sign with another team.

Rumsfeld wrote:Retirement or being pushed out, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Nonsense, think about it. The Canucks don't want Manny any more in the line up. They decide that when Kesler is back Manny is out. So why not waive him and send him down. They still pay his salary either way. But less would count on the cap if they sent him down that keeping him on IR.

Or they could explore trade opportunities and get back a 4-7 round pick. There are teams that need centres that would take him for cheep. If Manny was faced with press box, minors or waiving his NTC I am sure a deal somewhere could have been worked out.

In other words, if this is about making a roster spot the Canucks had plenty of options available to do that other than end a guys career. They gave him the option of retiring and immediately joining the front office in a capacity to be worked out, or, going on IR until July 1st but his playing days in Vancouver are over. If he stays on IR then he will collect his salary and come July 1 if he feels he can play he can test the market.

The absolute fear here was not about his eye but about his ability to protect himself on the ice from what could be a devastating injury because he didn't see it coming.

The bottom line is that hockey is a business. The business is always going to come first, every player knows this. If you don't maintain a level of play someone is going to take your spot.

If this was purely a salary cap issue, and Manny was not at risk in any way due to his injury, then you have to assume that Malhotra gets sent down and risked on waivers. Some of his salary would still count against the team, but they could also send Ebbett that way too as it's doubtful anyone claims him. Sending Manny down means he would be away from his wife and newly arrived child. He, and his wife, aren't going to like that. If he gets claimed on waivers than that is even worse for them as it more likely means a relocation for the whole family. Doing things this way means that the Canucks are still paying him his salary and keeping him with his family.

Moreover, if it's true that his agent and family were brought in on this decision then you also have to think that there is some truth to it and not just a cap based decision.